About New York

Welcome to the Big Apple, one of the most culturally diverse and exciting cities in the country! New York City consists of five different boroughs, Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx,Queens, and Staten Island, each with its own unique flavor. NYC is home to over 8 million people and is the most linguistically diverse city in the world with roughly half of its population speaking a language other than English in their homes. It is no wonder New York is considered to be the melting pot of the United States.

If this is your first time visiting NYC, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle, but don’t worry--if you can make it here you can make it anywhere. In keeping with this year’s conference theme “Out of Bounds,” we have created local guides for each borough to encourage conference attendees to explore new areas they may have never visited before. All boroughs are accessible through public transportation such as subways and buses, NYC Taxi Cabs, and car services like Uber and Lyft. Our hotel is located in the Midtown Area of Manhattan, home to many cultural attractions and one of the busiest areas of the city.

New York is known for its thriving arts scene, from the Chelsea galleries to the Bushwick artist studios, there is fascinating art to be seen all around New York. We have put together a guide to museums and galleries that should help you get your art fix in each borough. We have also included recommendations for cultural institutions to visit in each of the individual borough guides.

In the city that never sleeps, the nightlife is constantly booming. Explore trendy clubs and fashionable cocktails in the Meatpacking District, or visit a salsa club in the Bronx. Hipster beer halls are abundant in Brooklyn and trivia nights in the East Village are a local pastime.

While dinner and drink prices tend to be higher in New York than other cities in the country, cheap eats can certainly be found in every borough. Looking for authentic New York style pizza? The $1 slice places found on virtually every corner may have the best pizza you’ll ever eat. We also suggest making time to grab a genuine New York bagel which can only be explained by the fact that “our water is better.” View our borough guides for suggestions on where to eat in each area.

The best advice New Yorkers can give to visitors is to stay alert. Always be aware of your surroundings. It is nearly impossible to successfully walk and text in NYC, and besides, wouldn’t you hate to miss something?